Handbook of Female Psychopharmacology

Marked variations between men and women in the presentation of mood and anxiety disorders, differences in comorbidity as well as differences in response to treatment point to meaningful underlying sex differences. Women are not only twice as likely as men to suffer from major depression, dysthymia, or anxiety, but are also prone to depressive episodes triggered by hormonal fluctuations related to reproductive events. Clinically women present a notably different symptom profile and more often develop a seasonal pattern to these disorders. The lifetime prevalence of other major psychiatric disorders - such as schizophrenia and manic-depessive illness - may not differ between the sexes and the prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse-related disorders may even be higher in men. Nevertheless, there are major sex differences in onset, comorbidity, presentation and response to treatments, which again may be related to the effects of the fluctuating hormonal milieu in women. This handbook reviews the latest developments in female psychopharmacology. The primary goal is to raise the awareness and understanding of sex and gender specific differences in the etiology, presentation, prevention and treatment of mental disorders in women. Written and edited by two leading experts in the field, this handy and practical volume will be of natural interest to mental health care providers, general practitioners, and obstetricians/gynaecologists. It is hoped that it will also be read by trainees embarking on careers in women's health.Steiner, Meir is the author of 'Handbook of Female Psychopharmacology' with ISBN 9781841841274 and ISBN 1841841277.